I keep seeing people try the full Teton Crest Trail in four days

Anthony Wilson · 2026-03-29T05:15:03.971094+00:00

That's a fastpacking pace, not a backpacking one, and you miss the whole point of being up there. I did it in six last August and still felt rushed past Marion Lake. How do you convince a friend to add a buffer day without sounding like you're doubting them?

troy4495mo ago

My buddy Mark tried it in four days last summer and ended up basically speed-walking the whole thing. He said he barely remembers the Paintbrush Divide because he was just staring at his feet trying to keep pace. He told me later he wished someone had just told him to build in a lazy day to actually sit by a lake. Maybe frame it as wanting them to have time to soak it in, not just check it off.

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claire_campbell5mo ago

Honestly, I'd just tell them straight up that rushing through defeats the purpose. The whole magic is in having time to stop and look around.

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the_river4mo ago

Ask your buddy if they want a killer story to tell or just a blur of sore feet and granola bars.

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